Is the church really dying?

Thursday

Jan 4, 2018 at 12:01 AMJan 6, 2018 at 8:17 PM

By DJ Harry

I read an interesting statistic in an April 2017 article in The Washington Post written by Ed Stetzer. It was reported that if mainline Protestantism follows its current trajectory, there are only 23 Easter services left until there are no Christians left in churches around the United States.

This staggering conclusion comes from data that has been collected over the past 20 years that show an alarming trend in “organized Christianity.” Churches are in serious decline.

What is causing this fundamental shift away from churches? Simply put, it is the death of “cultural Christianity.”

Years ago, it was the norm for politicians, social innovators and community leaders to have close connections to a local church and to proudly wear their religious affiliation. These “nominal” believers saw incredible individual benefit to church attendance and so the pressure to conform was difficult to resist. As the pressure to associate with a local church diminished in society, these “cultural Christians” have all but disappeared from the church pews and have integrated back into a church-less culture.

This shift away from “cultural Christianity” may be disturbing at first, but here are some reasons why it isn’t a bad thing:

* “Cultural Christianity” offered false security.

When you go to church you feel good about yourself. There is an encouraging aspect to corporate worship that is centered around God’s Word and uplifting music. Even unbelievers that attend church can walk away with an uplifted spirit and feel warmed spiritually. Church attendance alone, however, doesn’t equate to salvation on any level, according to the scriptures. Sadly, that church attendance became the spiritual crutch for many cultural Christians.

* Clarified focus on sound doctrine.

The second reason why this decline in church attendance might not be a bad thing is that it has offered local churches the opportunity to have a renewed focus on the gospel and their holy calling. Churches were not designed by God to be the hub of social activity; the calling of the gospel goes much deeper than social gatherings, community events and neighborhood programs.

While these can be used as a tool to further the message of Christ, for years many churches lost their focus and began promoting these community activities as the purpose of the church. As numbers have declined in churches, it has presented them with a clear choice: refocus or perish.

* Religious honesty.

The final reason why this shift from “cultural Christianity” is good … it comes down to simple honesty. People are just more honest about their spiritual state these days than they were 20 years ago. While it appears that there has been an uptick in the number of professed atheists within the past decade, the reality is that people are less likely to hide their disbelief under the blanket of religion.

The atmosphere of “cultural Christianity” actually discouraged honesty about your spiritual state and encouraged people to “blend in” to the cultural norms of religion.

Have you seen the shift away from “cultural Christianity” in your community?

Can I encourage you with this truth? There has never been a time in American history when the light of the gospel message has been more distinct from the culture around it than the days in which we are living. Live out your faith in a way that is honest, consistent, purposed and different from the world.

As Christ stated in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

* DJ Harry is the pastor of Needhams Grove Baptist Church in Seagrove. He regularly writes articles online for www.thepastoralpen.com and hosts an online discussion with pastors about church matters at www.letstalk.church. Visit either website to learn more about his ministry and to find more resources for families and local church ministries. Contact: djharry6@gmail.com.

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